Henry Walter
Encyclopedia
Henry Walter was a Welsh
Anglican priest
who became a Puritan
.
, Monmouthshire
, south Wales
in 1611 and studied at the University of Oxford
, matriculating
as a member of Jesus College, Oxford
in 1633 and obtaining his Bachelor of Civil Law
degree in the same year. He was ordained as a priest in the Church of England
, and became curate
of Mounton
, not far from St. Arvans, in 1639 through his brother's influence. However, Walter's religious views diverged from those of the Church of England, becoming aligned with those of the non-conformist William Wroth
, who was also based in Monmouthshire; Wroth made Walter the main executor
of his will. During the English Civil War
, Walter seems to have left Monmouthshire for London. In 1646, he was one of three Puritan
clergymen sent by the House of Commons to preach in Welsh in Wales, and he was the first name on the list of clerical commissioners approving clergy appointments in Wales under the Act for the Propagation of the Gospel in 1650. In 1653, Walter became vicar
of St Woolos in Newport
, but he was ejected from there in 1662 after the Restoration. In 1672, he was given a licence to minister in Llantarnam
and later inspired the Independent congregation in Mynyddislwyn
, to whom he left some money in his will. He died sometime before 8 August 1678.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
Anglican priest
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
who became a Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
.
Life
Walter was born in the parish of St. ArvansSt. Arvans
St. Arvans is a village in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, United Kingdom. It is located two miles north west of Chepstow, close to Chepstow Racecourse, Piercefield House and the Wye Valley AONB.-History and amenities:...
, Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
, south Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
in 1611 and studied at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, matriculating
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
as a member of Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
in 1633 and obtaining his Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law is the name of various degrees in law conferred by English-language universities. Historically, it originated as a postgraduate degree in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, but many universities now offer the BCL as an undergraduate degree...
degree in the same year. He was ordained as a priest in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, and became curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
of Mounton
Mounton
Mounton is a hamlet in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, United Kingdom, located two miles west of Chepstow in a rural setting.The parish was originally part of the holdings of Chepstow Priory, with the name Monktown. It has a tiny parish church dedicated to St. Andoenus, which was almost wholly...
, not far from St. Arvans, in 1639 through his brother's influence. However, Walter's religious views diverged from those of the Church of England, becoming aligned with those of the non-conformist William Wroth
William Wroth
William Wroth , a minister of the Church of England, is generally credited with the establishment of the first Independent Church in Wales in 1639...
, who was also based in Monmouthshire; Wroth made Walter the main executor
Executor
An executor, in the broadest sense, is one who carries something out .-Overview:...
of his will. During the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, Walter seems to have left Monmouthshire for London. In 1646, he was one of three Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
clergymen sent by the House of Commons to preach in Welsh in Wales, and he was the first name on the list of clerical commissioners approving clergy appointments in Wales under the Act for the Propagation of the Gospel in 1650. In 1653, Walter became vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of St Woolos in Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, but he was ejected from there in 1662 after the Restoration. In 1672, he was given a licence to minister in Llantarnam
Llantarnam
Llantarnam is a community and suburb of Cwmbran in the county borough of Torfaen in southeast Wales.Llantarnam Abbey is a Cistercian abbey founded in 1179 as a daughter house of Strata Florida Abbey...
and later inspired the Independent congregation in Mynyddislwyn
Mynyddislwyn
Mynyddislwyn was a civil parish and urban district in Monmouthshire, south east Wales. It was abolished in local government reorganisation in 1974.The ancient parish of Mynyddislwyn covered a large part of the lower Ebbw and Sirhowy Valleys...
, to whom he left some money in his will. He died sometime before 8 August 1678.